Space
Program of Burkina Faso
------The Burkina Fasoan Space Agency------
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Level = 0 Development: Very Low
What has been going on in Burkina Faso?
What kind of space power do they have?
Does Burkina Faso have space weapons?
What are they planning over there? |
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Population: 13,300,000 / Language: French / GDP: $1320 / Cities: Ouagadougou
OVERVIEW
A poor country even by West African standards, landlocked Burkina Faso has suffered from recurring droughts, matched in number only by the military coups it has endured, especially during the 1980s. Burkina Faso has significant reserves of gold, but cotton production is the economic mainstay for many Burkinabes. The industry is vulnerable to changes in world prices. Formerly Upper Volta, Burkina Faso has spent many of its post-independence years under military rule.
AT-A-GLANCE
After taking power in a 1983 coup, Thomas Sankara adopted a policy of nonalignment, developed relations with Libya and Burkina Faso, and gave the country its present name, which translates as "land of honest men". In 1987 Mr Sankara was overthrown and then executed in a coup masterminded by Blaise Compaore, who has since instituted a multi-party system. Burkina Faso has faced domestic and external concern over the state of its economy and human rights, and allegations that it was involved in the smuggling of diamonds by rebels in Sierra Leone. Troubles in neighbouring Ivory Coast have raised tensions. Ivory Coast has accused Burkina Faso of backing rebels in its north, a claim denied by Ouagadougou, which accuses its neighbour of mistreating Burkinabes living in Ivory Coast.
President: Blaise Campaore
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Burkina Faso's Space Infrastructure
Burkina Faso is one of the world's poorest countries, with a nonexistant space program. Not only does it certainly not have an agency, but also no infrastructure in which one could arise. Its major university does not have space related eucational content, lacking astrophysics, astronautics, aeronautics and natural sciences. The government has no ministry devoted to science of this type. Burkina Faso has no history of being part of any organization dealing with space, nor has any launch capability. Burkina Faso lacks the industrial base, the educational base and the political foundation for a process like this to occur within it. It has no functioning university with an astrophysics or astronautics program, this includes the University of Ouagadougou, and nonexistant industry. Burkina Faso operates no satellites and, not having a presence, has no space power. The government of Burkina Faso has no plans for attempting to further any ambition in space development or research.
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None
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Timeline of Events in Burkina Faso ...From the Past to the Future 1919 - Upper Volta becomes separate constituent territory of French West Africa. 1932 - Upper Volta divided up between Cote d'Ivoire and French Sudan. 1947 - Upper Volta re-established as a separate territory within French West Africa. 1958 - Upper Volta becomes autonomous republic within the French Community. Independence 1960 - Upper Volta becomes independent with Maurice Yameogo as president. 1966 - Yameogo toppled in a military coup led by Sangoule Lamizana following unrest over a government austerity programme. 1970 - New constitution approved in a national referendum allows Lamizana to remain in power until 1975, when he would be replaced by an elected president; Gerard Ouedraogo appointed prime minister. 1974 - Maurice Lamizana returns to the political scene by ousting Prime Minister Ouedraogo and dissolving parliament. 1977 - New multi-party constitution promulgated. Coups 1978 - Maurice Lamizana chosen following multi-party elections. 1980 - Lamizana ousted in coup led by Saye Zerbo. 1982 - Zerbo overthrown in coup led by Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo following industrial unrest. 1983 - Zerbo toppled in coup led by Thomas Sankara who adopts a policy of nonalignment and close relations with Ghana and Libya. 1984 - Upper Volta renamed Burkina Faso. 1987 - Thomas Sankara ousted and executed in coup led by his close aide, Blaise Campaore. 1990 - Campaore introduces limited democratic reforms. 1991 - Campaore re-elected without opposition under a new constitution. Return to democracy 1992 - Campaore's Organisation for Popular Democracy-Labour Movement wins a majority of seats in the first multi-party parliamentary elections since 1978. 1996 - Meningitis kills 4,000. 1998 - Campaore wins presidential election by a landslide. 1999 June - General strike over economic grievances and alleged human rights violations. 1999 August - State-owned mining company Soremib announces the closure of the country's biggest gold mine. 1999 - Independent inquiry into 1998 death of journalist Norbert Zongo concludes he was a victim of political assassination. 2000 December - Government agrees to set up UN-run body to monitor weapons imports after allegations that it has been involved in smuggling arms to rebels in Sierra Leone and Angola. 2001 - Meningitis epidemic kills more than 1,500. 2002 October - Neighbouring Ivory Coast accuses Burkina Faso of sheltering dissident Ivorian soldiers. Burkina Faso raises concerns about attacks on Burkinabes in Ivory Coast after September's Ivorian military uprising. 2004 April - Military tribunal tries 13 people accused of plotting coup against President Compaore in October 2003. Army captain Luther Ouali jailed for 10 years for masterminding plot. 2005 November - President Compaore wins a third straight term in office. 2006 January-April - Meningitis outbreak kills more than 600 people. |
TODAY AND INTO THE FUTURE
Nothing Planned
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